Marilynn'sGardenKnitDesign: Leg Warmers

1/1/14 Happy New Year! Taking inspiration from the Sweater - Lots of Love project (March '13), I decided to knit a pair of leg warmers for my roller derby daughter. She loves them, and says they stay up while walking (not skating) 5 miles, but those leg warmers have a ruffle and extra ribbing. In this post, I'm presenting the Leg Warmers - Lots of Love (KISS).

Leg Warmers - Lots of Love

Marilynn Blacketer '14

Leg Warmers - Lots of Love work well in a wool blend.

The heart pattern/chart is fun to work, and the leg warmers can be knit in a weekend or two

making them the perfect gift or accessory.

Leg Warmers - Lots of Love

The pattern is written for worsted weight (with DK in parentheses). (Notes are in italic.)

Finished size: 11”(10”) flat, stretch 14”circumference, leg height 22”(21”)

Gauge: 5(5.5) stitches = 1” Adjust needle size, and row count to match gauge.

Materials:

Yarn: wool blend in worsted weight, (DK weight)

Photo: Plymouth Encore 75%acrylic/ 25%wool; 210yards/100g 2 skeins = 400 yards

(Plymouth Encore DK; 75%acrylic/ 25%wool; 150yards/ 50g 3 skeins = 450 yards)

Needles: Size US#7(5) and US#8(6), 16”and/or 24” circular needles

or size US#7(5) and US#8(6) set double pointed needles

(I prefer to knit both leg warmers at the same time on two circular needles. KNITTING circles around SOCKS by Antje Gillingham is an excellent resource for getting started.)

tapestry needle, stitch markers

Abbreviations: CO=cast on k = knit p= purl k2tog=knit 2 stitches together

k2tog tbl= knit 2 stitches together through the back loop k3tog= knit 3 stitches together Rnd/s=round/s sts=stitches yo= yarn over

Directions: (Make two leg warmers.)

Top Cuff:

With size US#8(6) needles, use the long-tail cast-on method. Cast on 52 stitches.

Place marker & join together by knitting first stitch being careful not to twist.

Rnds 1-15: With US#7(5) needles, *Knit 1, purl 1; repeat from * to end (3”(2”)from CO)

Rnds 16,17: Changing to size US#8(6) needles, Knit 2 rounds (26sts per needle)

(If using double pointed needles, divide 13sts per needle on 4 needles; or 26sts on 1^st needle for the leg front; 13sts on 2^nd needle, 13sts on 3^rd needle for the leg back .)

Leg:

Rnds 1-110(130): Work (26sts)heart pattern/chart twice around for each leg. (52sts)

Work the heart pattern/chart through rnd 40, repeat pattern/chart rnds 21 to 40 to desired length, then complete rounds 41-50. Work heart pattern/chart, until leg measures about 20” from CO, remembering to complete the pattern/chart through rnd 50.

Ankle Cuff:

Change to size US#7(5) needles.

Rnds 1-10: * Knit 1, purl 1; repeat from * to end

Finishing: Use size#8(6) needle, bind off loosely in pattern. Weave in tails.

Make the second leg warmer.

Hearts chart

Work (26sts)heart chart twice around for each leg. (52sts)
Follow the heart chart from the bottom up and right to left.
You'll be working on the leg warmers upside down!

to follow the Key, please look at rnd 3, remembering to read the chart from right to left.
Rnd 3: k2tog, yo, k3, yo, k3tog, yo, k3, yo, k2tog tbl, k13

Here are a few photos of the project in progress:

I like to work both leg warmers on two sets of circular needles. I printed a copy of the chart, and drew a highlighted line after 13 stitches dividing the chart in half . I've place a green marker after the first 13sts, and purple markers for the others. I also marked the chart after rounds 20 and 40 because rounds 21-40 are the pattern repeat to create desired length. The leg warmers are worked through the ribbing and rnd 40 of the chart. I'll work rnds 21-40 a few more times.


The leg warmers are worked through rnds 21-40 a few times, and ready to be completed through rnds 41-50.

Ten rounds are ribbing are worked at the ankle cuff. I'm using a size US#8 double pointed needle for the bind off. Also notice I've clipped the "live" stitch of the first leg warmer as it patiently waits for my return.